Pyrophoric lighting mechanism



June 14, 1938. L. V. ARONSON PYRoPHoRIc LIGHTING MECHANISM Filed March 29, 1935' 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Zoals VAI-0mm m, 9- 2614,@ y ATTORNEYS 11a IZ 1l June 14, 1938. L, v. ARONSQN 2,120,226

PYROPHORIC LIGHTING MECHANISM Filed March 29, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Zoals VArwzsulz BY 0544A, M @2d-.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PYROPHOBIO LIGHTING MEOHANISH Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., signor to Art Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey application March, za 1935, serial No. 13,027

l s claims. (Ci. sv-4.1)

My invention relates to pyrophoric lighting mechanism utilizable for any desired purpose such, for example, as the ignition of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, etc., etc.

My invention, in an important phase thereof,

relates to pyrophoric lighting mechanism constructed and arranged in such manner that a detachable torch member may be utilized in lever or equivalent fashion to actuate the sparking device of said mechanism.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the pyrophoric lighting mechanisms,.combinations, features and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 727,060, led May 23, 1934.

For an understanding of. my inventionand for an illustration ofsome of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of pyrophoric lighting mechanism as constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, corresponding generally with Fig. 2 but showing some of the parts in different positions;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view,

partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, and is taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, showing a part of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 'l is a vertical sectional view, partly-in elevation, showing a modiiled form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, corresponding generally with Fig. '7 but showing a different relation of some of the parts;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in p plan, and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of the sparkproducing unit;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view. partly in elevation, of a torch member; and

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, and is taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the. arrows.

Referring to Figs. 1-8 inclusive, C representsa main casing formed from sheet metal or other 5 suitable material. As herein illustrated, a1- though not necessarily, the main casing C may be open at the bottom thereof so as to telescopically and detachably receive a fuel casing F which, likewise, may be formed from suitable 10 sheet material.

Secured in any suitable manner to the main casing C is a cover plate I which, if desired and as herein shown, may be utilized as a support for the various parts of the operating mechanism l5 hereinafter to be described.

At or adjacent the center thereof, the above described cover plate I is provided with a circular opening which receives the upper endof a sleeve-like member 2 secured to said cover plate I 20 in any suitable manner. In orderr that the member 2 may thus be secured to the cover plate I, said member 2 may be provided with a ange 2a which is clamped against the lower cover plate surface by a nut 3 threaded to the extreme upper 25 end of said member 2.

Disposed within the sleeve-like member 2 is a slldable piston-like member or plunger 4 which may have a cap member l threaded to the upper end thereof. As shown on the drawings, the cylln- 30 drical member 2 may be provided with a pair of diametrically alined vertically extending slots 2b and the plunger I may also be provided with a pair of diametrically alined vertically extending slots 4b, as illustrated. All of these slots are disposed in alined relation with respect to each other so as to freely receive a section of alever 6 pivoted at 1 to a bracket arm 8 depending from the cover plate I.

A helical spring 9 is disposed within the upper 4o .part of the plunger 4, the upper end oi said spring 9 engaging the lower surface of the cap member 5 and the lower end of. said spring engaging the upper surface of the aforesaid section of the lever 6. The plunger 4 comprises a depending stem section 4c around which is disposed a helical spring Il, the lower end of which rests upon the bottom wall of the cylindrical member 2 and they upper end of which engages the flanged surface Idof the plunger 4. 'I'he stem section 4c' is freely slldable in an opening formed in said bottom wall of the cylindrical member 2. Below this bottom wall, the stem section 4c has a washer Il suitably secured thereto, as by a nut 55 'I2, this washer II comprising an offset section IIa utiliable as hereinafter described.

Secured to the lower end of the member 2 is a ring-shaped bracket I3 having a lever I4 pivoted to a lateral section thereof at I5. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of the lever I4 is coactable with the aforesaid washer offset section Ila, the upper end of said lever I4 beingA notched as indicated at I 4a, this notch beingy adapted to receive the corner of a lug 9a projecting laterally from the aforesaid section of the lever U. The lever I4 should be biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, either by action of gravity, or by a suitable spring, not shown.

suitably secured, as by the screws I6, to the upper surface of the cover plate Il is a housing I1, the opposite vertical walls of which horizontally support a shaft I9. Freely rotatable on the shaft I8 is a sleeve I9 having a gear wheel 2li formed integrally with one end thereof or fixed thereto so as to be movable therewith. Secured to the end of the sleeve I9 opposite the gear wheel 2i! is an arm 2l which carries a pawl 22 biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 3, so that the free end thereof engages a ratchet wheel 23 formed integrally with a sleeve -24 freely rotatable on the aforesaid sleeve I9. Secured to the sleeve 24 for rotatablemovement therewith is a wheel 25, the outer peripheral face of which is serrated or roughened for frictional contact with a pyrophoric element 29 which, in part, projects from a tube 21 anchored in fixed position and extending downwardly through the cover plate I and the casing C. As well understood in the art, the tube 21 contains a suitable spring, not shown, which biases the pyrophoric element 25 into engagement with the serrated wheel 25.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the cover plate I is apertured or slotted for the free passage therethrough of the vertical arm of the aforesaid lever 6. As indicated, the upper end of this vertical lever arm is provided with' rack teeth disposed in meshing relation with the teeth of the aforesaid gear wheel 20.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 31, the side of the housing I1 facing the cap member 5 is cut away or apertured as indicated at Ila. and, as will readily be understood, this aperture constitutes a passage through which pass the pyrophoric sparks produced when the serrated wheel is rotated with respect to the fixed pyrophoric element 26, these sparks passing above the cap member 5 when it is in its depressed position as shown in Fig. 3.

For a reason hereinafter to be explained, the wall of the housing I1 in which the aforesaid aperture I'Ia is formed may be of V-shaped configuration as indicated as I1b in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover plate I is provided with an opening through which extends the upper end of a tubular member 29 anchored to said cover plate I and depending vertically therefrom. This tubular member 29 is vertically alined with a vertical passage opening into and communicating with the interior of the fuel casing F.

As illustrated on the drawings, the aforesaid tubular member 28 detachably supports a torch member T which comprises a handle 29 having depending therefrom a tubular member 99 forming a housing for a tubular wick 3l through which a non-flexible core member 32 extends. When the torch T is positioned as shown at the right of Fig. l, the lower end of the wick 3| is disposed interiorly of the fuel casing F so as to take p fuel previously charged into the absorbent material Il contained in said fuel casing F.

` Buitably secured to and projecting upwardly from the cover plate I is a f ulcrum-forming member 94 which may be of suitable connguration such as U-shaped, L-shaped or of the curved configuration shown. In Fig. 2, the various parts of the operating mechanism are shown in normal position. When the mechanism of my invention is to be operated, the torch T is removed from the position shown' at the right of Fig. 1 and positioned as shown at the left of said Fig. l or as shown in Fig. 2, i. e., with the lower end of the non-flexible core member 32 disposed on the cap member 5 and with the tubular member 30 disposed beneath the lateral section of the member I4. Thereupon, the operator, by manual action. elevates the handle section 29 of the torch T in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. l. When the torch T is thus moved, it pivots or fulcrums about the member 34 and the cap member 5 is necessarily depressed in accordance with the upward movement of the torch handle section 29.

The plunger 4 moves downwardly with the cap member 5 and, in response to the downward movement of these parts, the springs 9 and I0 are compressed. During this initial downward movement of the plunger 4, the lever 5 remains stationary by reason of the fact that the lateral pin 9a thereof is in engagement with the notched section I4a of the lev er I4. Eventually, during continued downward movement of the plunger 4, the washer section IIa engages the lower end of the lever I4 to thereby rock said lever I4 in a clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in Fig. 2. As a result, the notched lever end I4a is disengaged from the lateral pin 6a of the lever 5. When disengagement is thus effected, the lateral section of the lever 5, which heretofore has served as a stop surface for the bottom section of the spring 9, is freed from restraint and, accordingly, said spring 9 is permitted to expand suddenly and thereby rock the lever 9 in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. 'I'his action occurs with a snap-action and, in response thereto, a quick step of rotative movement is imparted to the gear wheel 25, the sleeve I9, arm 2I, pawl 22, ratchet wheel 29, sleeve 24, and serrated wheel 25, the latter moving in a clockwise direction from the position vshown in Fig. 2 with the result that a shower of pyrophoric sparks are produced which pass through the aperture IIa, after the same has been opened as shown in Fig. 3, and come into engagement with the exposed end of the wick 3 I.

As a result of the foregoing operations, a freely burning flame is produced at the lower end of the torch T. The latter may now readily be removed from its fulcruming position and may quickly be conveyed to any object to be ignited. In so doing, the torch T may be passed about or from hand to hand in order to accomplish any desired lighting operation. After the torch T has served its intended purpose, the flame may be extinguished or, while still flaming, it may be reinserted into the tubular member 28 which serves to snuif the flame. As soon as the torch T has been returned to' its normal position as shown in Fig. l, fuel is again taken up by the lower Yexposed end of the wick II.

When the cap member 5 was moved downwardly in response to the fulcruming action of the torch T as described above, the springs l and |0 were compressed. When the notched lever section |4a became disengaged from the lateralpin 6a, the spring 9 expanded suddenly, this action being accompanied by further compression of the spring I0.

As soon as the torch T was removed from the cap memberi as described above, the spring I0 became effective to expand and thereby return the parts to their normal respective positions as shown in Fig. 2. lin so doing, the plunger Lis moved upwardly to elevate the spring 9 and to swing the lever 6 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the lever 6 moving in the direction last noted until the notched lever section Ida. again becomes engaged with the lateral pin 6a. When the lever 6 is thus swung in a clockwise direction from the Fig. 3 position thereof to the Fig. 2 position, the gear wheel 20, sleeve I9, arm 2| and pawl 22 idle with respect to the stationary ratchet wheel 23 and stationary serrated wheel 25.

As clearly appears from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3, the spring 9 is heavy while the spring Ill is 1ight. That is, the spring 9, to a suitable degree, is more resistant to compression than the spring I0. This is a desirable construction because the spring 9 has energy stored therein to produce the pyrophoric sparks in the manner described above.

As shown on the` drawings, the apertured wall of housing l1 is of V-shaped configuration. This is desirable because facilitating the act of positioning the torch T in the proper fulcruming position. As will readily be understood, the remote end of the non-flexible core 32 readily slides into the notch of the V and, when thus positioned, is directly above and the cap member 5.

With the form of my invention hereinbefore described, it will readily be understood that the fulcruming action of the torch produces downward movement of the plunger 4 whereby, as a first act, energy is stored inthe spring 9 and,v

C may comprise bracket extensions Ib apertured for the reception of fastening screws utilizable for holding the casing C in fixed position. It shall be understood that the arrangement last noted is descriptive only and that any other suitable alternative arrangement may be substituted therefor.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, there is provided a main casing C| which may be associated with a fuel casing F in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1-6 inclusive. Suitably secured to the main casing Cl is a cover plate PI which has a pair of spaced, depending lugs 60, 60a soldered or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Suitably secured to these lugs, as by screws 6| is a depending frame 62 which forms a support for the hereinafter described operating mechanism, said frame, for example, being of generally rectangular configuration as shown in Fig. 9.

Disposed within the shell formed by the frame 62 is a member 63 which extends in generally a vertical direction, the upper end 63a of said properly related to member 63 extending through an opening 64 formed in the cover plate PI. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the upper end 63a of said member` 63 is provided with a depression 63h, the latter being utilizable as hereinafter described. The member 63 is intended to oscillate in a vertical plane disposed longitudinally of the main casing C| and, to this end, the lower end of said member 63 may be provided with a pin 63o which seats loosely within an opening formed in the bottom wall of the frame 62. As illustrated on the drawings, the member 63 is biased, for example. by a leaf spring 65 in a clockwise direction, Figs. 7 and 8, said leaf springy 65 being conveniently secured to said lower wall of the frame 62. 'I'he member63 further comprises a pin 63d extending laterally thereof and being utilizable as hereinafter described.

A pin 66, horizontally disposed in the side walls of the frame 62,l is adapted to support a lever 61, one horizontal arm of which is notched as indicated at 61a for detachable engagement'with the aforesaid lateral pin 63d. The lother horizontal arm of the lever 61 is`connected by a pin-andslot connection 68 with the shank sections of a collar 69 which is soldered or otherwise suitably secured to a sleeve 10 mounted for vertical, reciprocatory movement in alined passages formed, respectively, in the bottom wall of the frame 62 and the cover plate PI. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a helical spring 1| encircles the lower part of the sleeve 10 and is disposed between the lower wall of said frame 62 and the collar 69, said spring 1| constantly biasing the collar 69 and the sleeve 10 in an upward direction toward a stop member 12 carried by the side walls of said frame 62.

The aforesaid lever 61 comprises a section 61h extending in generally a vertical direction, said lever section 61b terminating on its upper surface in a set of rack teeth 61e. These rack teeth 61e are adapted to mesh with a pinion 13 of a pyrophoric spark-producing unit from which ,sparks are projected along a path extending above the upper end 63a of the member 63, said pinion 13 being freely rotatable on a pin or axle 14 supported horizontally in a standard 15 upstanding from the cover plate PI. Formed integrally with the pinion 13 is a sleeve 16, the pinion and sleeve being freely rotatable on the axle 14. Freely rotatable on the sleeve 16 is a wheel 11 having a serrated or roughened outer peripheral face. The side of the serrated wheel 11 removed from the pinion 13 is provided with rack teeth 13a with which coacts a ratchet disk 18 mounted on the adjacent end of the sleeve 16, said ratchet disk 18 being biased from right to left, Fig. 10, by a coiled spring 19 winch is disposed between said disk 18 and a nut 80 threaded to the outer end of the axle 14. The ratchet disk 18 is freely slidable axially of the projecting end of the sleeve 16 but is otherwise fixed thereto so as to be rotatable therewith. As svhown in Figs. 7 and 8, the above described spark-producing unit is enclosed by a cap structure 8| suitablysecured to the cover plate P| and provided with an 'opening 8|a through which the pyrophoric sparks are adapted to pass along the above noted path. As illustrated, the cap structure 8| defines a surface 8| b forming a fulcrum to be engaged, in the manner hereinafter described, by the torch member.

the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1-6 lnelmive. Alternately, if desired. a modified torch member may be utilised with the mechanism illustrated -insaidl'igs.7,8and9. lhus.asshownin1ligs. s 1l and 12, said alternative torch member may compriseatubularmemberl! terminatinginan ."upper handle section 82a, the lower surface of which denes a.A hanged' surface lfb, Fig. 1.

i Adapted for association with the member l2 is s. member I3 which comprises a shank .la adapted to be detachably received in the tubular opening at the bottom of said member Il. As shown, l-the member Il is of ilat configuration and is so as to denne a tapered lower section lib.

16 "A wick 8l folded into flat U-conflguratlon axially of the member I3 is secured thereto in any l suitable manner. as by the ilexible wire Il which is seated in slots'llc formed atopposite edges of said member Il.

20 It will readily be understood that the ends of the wick M ar'e exposed below the lower end of the tubular member 82.`

Accordingly, when the torch member is associated with the complete mechanism as shown J in Fig. '1, it results that the lower ends lof the wick 84 come within the vertical passage dened interiorly of the fuel casing F. As a result, fuel is absorbed by the wick Il and, since the latter is of substantial length, the supply of fuel which may be taken up by said wick is relatively large. As the parts are shown in Fig. 7, 'the lever 61 is in its extreme position in a clockwise direction. The spring 'H'is under compression and is so maintained by reason of the fact that the pin 63d of the member Il is engaged by the notched section 61a of the lever 61.

' When the mechanism is to be operated, the handle section 82a of the torch member is grasped to manually remove the same from the 4 tubular member 1I and the tapered section b at the lower end of the torch member is posi- ,tioned in the depression 63h at the upper end 'of the member 63. Then, in suitable manner, as by utilization of the surface Blb of the cap structure 8| as a fulcrum, the member 63 is "moved in a counter-clockwise direction. Fig. '1,

to disengage the piny 63d from the notched section 51a of the lever 81. As soon as disengage- "ment of these parts is thus effected, the spring 1| is released and expands with a snap action to elevate the collar i9 against the stop surface 'I2 and to swing the lever 01 in a counter-clockwise direction,-Fig. 8. 'Ihe rack teeth G'Ic of the lever 61 coact with the pinion 'I3 and, therefore, a step of movement is imparted to theserrated -wheel I1 whereby a shower of pyrophoric sparks are produced, these sparks passing along a path which extends through the opening Sla of the cap structure 8| and igniting the charge of fuel carried by the lower ends of the wick I4.

After the torch member has served itsintended ignitionfpurpose, it may again be introduced into the tubular member 10. After the flanged sur- 5` face IIb thereof engages the upper end of said tubular member, continued downward application of pressure produces downward movement of the tubular member` to thereby compress the spring 1l and move the lever C1 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 7. When the lever 61 reaches the position last named, the pin i3d of the member 63 comes into engagement with the notched section 61a of'the lever 81 to thereby latch the parts in their n respectivepositionsasshowninlig. 'Isoasto be in condition for-subsequentiutomatic operation in the'manner hereinbefore described.

,Itistobeunderstoodthatthe hereinbefore specifically described are merely illustrative of the many embodiments which the invention may take. Thus, for example, in `lieu of the described spark-producing mechanism, it shall be understood that other equivalent arrangements for obtaining uni-directional movement of a serrated wheel may be utilized. Furthermore, it is to be understood that fuel may be supplied to the fuel casing F in any convenient manner. It shall also be understood that the sealing arrangement interiorly of the fuel casings f or the lower ends of the respective torch members may assume any one of a variety of forms in accordance with the broad purview of the invention.

It shall be understood that, in one ,of yits broader aspects, my invention relates to the use of a torch as a lever in order to effect operation of the sparking mechanism. In Figs. 1-6 inclusive, the torch-lever, when fulcrumed, energizes a spring and trips a latch in order to effect production of the sparks. In Figs. 7-10 inclusive, the torch-lever, when fulcrumed, merely trips a latchthe spring is energized by a previous v action. It will be'recognized thatv two different modes of operation are thus described. However, it shall be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed modes of operation because, from the broad aspect noted, apparatus of radically different type from that disclosed may be operated by a torch-lever fulcrumed about some fixed part of the lighter casing.

It shall also be understood, as regards the forms of the invention hereinbefore describedin detail, that various modiications and changes may be made as desired without affecting the principle of operationin substance.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be se cured by Letters Patent is:

1. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing, spark-producing means, fulcrum means,

an actuating member for said spark-producing means, a spring urging said actuating member toward a position at one limit of its stroke wherein said actuating member is idle, a torch engageable with said fulcrum means and rockable thereabout to depress said actuating member into a position at the opposite limit of its stroke and hold said actuating member in said last named position, and means for transferring energy from said actuating member to said spark-producing means.

2. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing, spark-producing means, fulcrum means, a movable member for actuating said sparkproducing means, said movable member being positioned between said spark-producing means and said fulcrum means, and a torch engageable with said fulcrum means to actuate said movable member, said torch carrying a charge of fuel positioned in the path of sparks projected from said spark-producing means.

a movable member, a spring intervening between A said spark-producing means and said movable member, and a torch having a surface adjacent its lower end adapted to engage said fulcrum means and said lower torch end being adapted to engage said movable member to thereby actuate the same, said torch, when engaged with said fulcrum means as specified, serving to actuate said movable member whereby energy is stored in said spring, said torch comprising a wick positioned in the path of sparks projected from said sparkproducing means.

5. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing, spark-producing means, fulcrum means, a movable member i'or actuating said sparkproducing means,- and a torch engageable' with said fulcrum means to actuate said movable member, said torch carrying a charge of fuel adapted to be positioned in the path of sparks projected from said spark-producing means, said fulcrum means and said movable member cooperating to provide an arrangement whereby said torch is disposed in inclined relation with respect to a horizontal plane when the sparks are projected into engagement therewith.

6. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing, spark-producing means, fulcrum means.

a movable member for actuating said sparkproducing means, said fulcrum means and said' movable member projecting beyond one wall of said casing, and a torch engageable with said fulcrum means to' actuate said movable member, said torch carrying a charge of fueladapted to be positioned in the path of sparks projected from said spark-producing means, said torch being disposed in inclined relation with respect to said c asing wall when the sparks are projected into engagement therewith. i

7. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing, spark-producing means, a fulcrum member, amovable member for actuating said spark-producing means, said spark-producing means, said fulcrum member and said movable member being positioned above the top wall of said casing, and a torch engageable with said fulcrum member to actuate said movable member, s'aid torch carrying a charge of fuel adapted to be positioned in the path of sparks projected from said spark-producing means, said 'fulcrum member and said movable member cooperating to provide an arrangement whereby said torch is disposed in an inclined relation above said top wall when the sparks are projected into engagement therewith.

8. Pyrophorlc lighting mechanism comprising spark-producing means, a spring, a movable member associated with said spring, fulcrum means, a torch engageable with said fulcrum means so as to actuate said movable member and thereby store energy in Asaid spring. said torch carrying a charge of fuel adapted to be positioned in the path oi' sparks projected from said spark-producing means, and means whereby the energy stored in said spring is suddenly released to thereby operate said spark-producing means with a snap action.

LOUIS V. ARONBON. 

